Dispensing package



J. B. TWIGG DISPENSING PACKAGE July 28, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb.25, 1957 a; u 4 V w 2 W 2th a M... w v 11?: o u a m ||||I A f JERRY 5.71 7466 INVENTOR July 28, 1959 J. B. TWIGG' DISPENSING PACKAGE 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb 25, ,1957

llllllllllllllllllll lll' V I I .HVVENZ'OR. 75/60 JERRY B.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 J. B. TWIGG DISPENSING PACKAGE July 28, 1959 Filed Feb.25, 1957 a m H w. M w :zL. 7 Ji 1 4 m n 4r 4 W f Z 1 w m n fl v. .G W pw x O E J J J H W... J Tr n u z J w m u m n U n. n n n LII" ||n| J. I uA.

United States Patent DISPENSING PACKAGE Jerry B. Twigg, Bethesda, Md.

Application February 25, 1957, Serial No. 642,211

'13 Claims. (Cl. 221-64) The present invention relates to the packagingart and more specifically and in particular to a unique and novelpocket-type dispensing package for cigarettes and like articles.

Numerous and varied structures have been disclosed and utilizedheretofore in the packaging of cigarettes and like pocket-carriedarticles. Many of these prior structures have incorporated rigid,box-like packages including hinged lids for uncovering the ends ofarticles contained therein, and some of these prior packages haveadditionally provided for complex and costly components for elevatingthe contained articles through the lid opened end thereof.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a novel and uniquepackage for cigarettes and like objects which retains allof thosefunctional and utilitarian advantages of known prior constructions andadditionally provides for advantages and obtains results heretoforeunknown in the art.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a rigid, crushproofpackage for pocket-carried articles such as cigarettes which is compactand highly utilitarian.

Still a further object of this invention rests in the provision of anovel and useful pocket package which is quickly and easily manipulatedto dispense Cigarettes and like articles contained therein to facilitatetheir removal from the package.-

A further object of this invention is to provide an.

:article dispensing package of the character described in which thedispensing operation is accomplished by normally hidden components insuch a manner as to make .the package a unique novelty item. Yet anadditional object of this inventionis the provision of a newand uniquearticle dispensing package of the character described which is extremelysimple and inexpensive in design and capable of low cost mass productionto provide an attractive and useful package.

till additionalobjects and advantages of thepresen! invention willbecomemore readily apparentto those skilled; in' the art when the followingdisclosure is read inthe lightof the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. -1 is a perspective'view of the novel package constituting thepresent invention.

- Fig.2 is aside elevation of position.

the package in a normal ig. 3 is aside elevation of the package with theoperable dispensing components in cocking position.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the package with the operable dispensingcomponents in dispensing position.

. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation taken on line 5-5, Fig. 2. 6 is asectional elevation taken on line 6-6, Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a sectionalelevation taken on line 77, Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the blankfrom which one componentof the dispensing package is formed.

' Fig. 9- is a horizontal section taken on line 9--9 of Fig. 5. I I

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a blankfrom a second component of thedispensing package is formed.

60 over the closed bottom end of the box 12 1n such a manner as to forma continuous flush outer package face ice Fig. 11 is a plan view of thepackage component formed from the blank disclosed in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a pictorial view of the inner multi-part foil container forthe package contents.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a blank from which one part of the innercontainer may be formed.

Fig. 14 is a plan View of a blank from which another part of the innercontainer may be formed.

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 12 of an inner foil container for thepackage form shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 16 is a plan view 'of'a blank from which one part of the containerof Fig. 15 may be formed.

The new and unique dispensing package constituting the present inventionwhich is generally designated at 10 consists basically of a rigid box12, a cocking tube 14, and a multi-part inner foil or like protectivecontainer 16. The specific dimensions of the several components of thedispensing package are flexible within limits, and permit the adaptationof the inventive concepts of the structure to cigarette boxes orpackages of varied sizes in order to accommodate the several differentarrangements in which cigarettes are now commonly packaged.

-In Fig. l of the drawings the dispensing package disclosed is intendedto depict that type wherein the cigarettes would be arranged in twoparallel rows of ten cigarettes each longtiudinally of the package. InFigs. 5 through 7 of the drawings a package is shown which is designedas to dimension to accommodate cigarettes packed in three substantiallyparallel rows as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings.

Referring more specifically to the generally designated components ofthe dispensing package constituting the present invention, the rigid box12 consists of a rectangular housing open as generally designated at 18and provided about the open end with a thickened wall portion '20defining a shoulder 22 at a spaced distance from the.

open end and disposed in the direction of the remote closed end 24thereof. The closed end of the rigid box is formed by overlapping bottomwall portions 26 and 28 which are formed by perpendicularly foldedextensions of the two opposed side walls 30 and 32 of the box.

The side walls 30 and 32 respectively of the box 12 are provided withlongitudinally extended slotted openings 34 which extend for a spaceddistance intermediate the closed bottom wall 24 of the box and theshoulder 22.

Each side of the box is provided with two such slotted openings whichare located one closely adjacent each vertical side edge of therespective box face and which slotted openings are of identicalconfiguration and corresponding placement.

The cooking tube 14 takes the form of a rigid rectangular tube open topand bottom and having a wall shoulder 22 of the box.

thickness equal to the depth of the annular shoulder 22 of the box 12and an inside dimension adapted to telescopically receive that portionof box 12 below the annular Further, the longitudinal dimension of thetube is equal to the distance from the annular shoulder 22 to the outerbottom face of the closed end 24 of the box 12. The tube 14, constructedin accordance with the above, is telescopically received with the outerface of the thickened portion 12 of the box member 12. The inner face ofthe tube 14 is provided with a plurality of buttons or discs 36 each ofwhich is so located as to engage slidably within one of 36 are locatedlongitudinally of the tube 14 so as to be positioned closely adjacentthe extreme upper ends of the slotted openings 34 when the box and tubeare in the 7 closed telescop c positions lllustrated 1n Figs. 1,- 2 and5 of the drawings. The inwardly disposed faces of these discs 36 areprovided with covering or coating of a material 38 having a frictioninducing character.

The inner multi-part protective container 16 consists of a closed,wrapped container of foil or like protective material which is nestedwithin the interior ofvbox 12 and within which the cigarettes 40 arearrangedin accordance with the size and style of the particular packageinvolved.

The generally rectangular inner container, as best seen in Fig. 12, haseach lower corner thereof cut away through the end, opposed side facesand bottom thereof in such a manner as to define rectangular openings 45on both side faces extending from the bottom longitudinally of the facesfor a distance slightly greater than the longitudinal spacing of theupper ends of the cut-out openings 34 in the box 12 above the bottomwall thereof. The side Wall openings 45 formed by the cut away cornerportions of the container underlie the cut-out openings 34 in the box inwhich the container is nested and the inner container is provided withan insert 44 for each cut away portion, formed of foil or like material,each of which is slidably received within the container to normallyclose the cut away portion and provide a marginal edge portion. 46, asdefined by dotted lines 47 in Fig. 12, in slidable contact with theinner face of the inner container completely about the line defining thecut-out segment on the end, side walls and across the bottom thereof.Each insert 44 serves to afford a bottom and side wall enclosure forthose cigarettes positioned at the extreme ends longitudinally of theinner container for purposes to be hereinafter disclosed. The upper endof the inner container 16 is closed in substantially conventional mannerby in-folded flap portions 48,- which are cut at their inner ends as at49, and which are normally opened upwardly and outwardly.

In operation of the dispensing package hereinbefore disclosed, the box12 is telescopically elevated from within the cocking tube 14 to bringthe lower ends of the slotted openings 34 into engagement with the discs36 limiting further elevation of the box. Then, by applying fingerpressure inwardly of the opposed faces of the cocking tube in the regionof the discs 36 the frictional faces of the discs are frictionallyengaged against the outer faces of the slidable insert 44 immediatelyinwardly of the slotted openings 34 Within the box 12, whereupondepression of the box 12 telescopically inwardly of the tube away frominsert 44 which is retained in an extended position relative to tube 14by frictional engagement with discs 36. As the box 12 is withdrawnrelative to insert 44, the cigarettes seated in the insert will engagethe infolded flaps 48 over the top of box 12 forcing the flaps outwardlyto expose the ends of the cigarettes in a position of ready access abovethe end of box 12.

. In order to return the exposed cigarettes to a housed position in box12, finger pressure is continued against the outer faces of tube 14 inthe region of discs 36 while the box 12 is again telescopically elevatedrelative to the tube. Full extension of the box 12 will thus bring thebox into surrounding coincidence with the insert 44 which will have beenretained immovable relative to the tube 14 during elevation of the box.Finger pressure on discs 36 is then released, and the box is againslidably depressed within the tube carrying with it the insert 44 andthe cigarettes contained therein.

The sequence of the foregoing operational steps is disclosed in Figs. 2through 7 of the drawings wherein in Figs. 2 and 5 the package is in itsnormal pocket-carried condition; in Figs. 3 and 6 the box 12 has beenelevated to cock the tube 14; and in Figs. 4 and 7 the box 12 has beendepressed with the tube in cocked condition thereby ejecting ordispensing the cigarettes outwardly of the open upper end of the box.

In Fig. 8 of the drawings there is shown a blank from which the cockingtube 14, as shown in plan view in which correspond to one end wall ofthe tube. 10

Fig. 9 of the drawings, may be readily formed. The blank consists of arectangular member 50 of a rigid fiber of cellulose material which is ofthe same transverse width as the depth of the tube as it is applied tothe package. The blank member 50 is divided longitudinally into twosections 52 and 54 corresponding to the side walls of the tube which areseparated centrally of the member by a section 56 defined by perforationlines 58 One extreme end of the blank member 50 is provided with anadditional section 60 defined by and separated from the side wallsection 52 by perforated line 64. By folding the blank at right anglessuccessively along the perforation lines from one end of the blank tothe other the tube as shown in Fig. 9 will'be formed with the end wallsection 60 in abutting position with side wall 54 where they are securedby suitable adhesive or by an encircling wrapper.

In Fig. 10 of the drawings there is disclosed one form of blank member68 from which the box member 12 may be formed as it is shown in top planview in Fig. 11 of the drawings. As will be noted from Fig. 11 of-thedrawing the box is formed with two separate compart-.

ment areas 70 and 72 which are separated by a partition wall generallydesignated 74 centrally and vertically of the box.

I he blank 68 is substantially rectangular in configuration and includesfour equal sections 76, 78, and 82 corresponding to the opposed sidewalls of the two com- 30' partments 70 and 72. The wall sections 76 and78 are separated by a section 84 defined therebetween by perfo sectioncorresponds to and forms one thickness of the partition wall separatingthe compartmented areas 70 and 72 of the box. Each end of the blank 68is provided with a section 94 defined by perforated fold lines 96 andthese sections correspond to and form the remaining thicknesses of thecenter partition wall of the box. Along one longitudinal edge of theblank 68 the side wall forming sections 76, 78, 80 and 82 are providedwith projecting tabs 98, 100, 102 and 104 which are defined byperforated fold lines 106, 108, 110 and 112 in alternately staggeredrelationship longitudinally of the blank and these tabs correspond toand form the bottom wall 24 for each of the compartments 70 and 72 ofthe box 12.

V In the blank form 68 each of the side Wall forming sections isprovided with a cut-out slot 34, as hereinbefore described, which slotsare so positioned in each i of the respective sections as to assumeproper positions in the opposed faces of each of the box compartmentswhen the box is assembled as shown in Fig. 11.

Formation of the box 12 is accomplished by starting at one end andfolding each successive section in the same direction at right angles tothe preceding section until the second fold line 92 has been reachedwhereupon the direction of fold is reversed through 180 at that line andthen each succeeding section is folded at right angles in the samereverse direction of fold throughout the remaining fold lines in thelength of the blank. When the blank has been so folded each of thesections 94 of the blank will be positioned as shown in Fig. 11 injuxtaposition with the opposed faces of the center section of the blankto which faces they are suitably secured by adhesive or the like toretain the box in its rigid folded condition. By successively foldingtabs 98 and 102 against the bottom of each ofthe box compartments andthen finally by folding tabs and 104 across the bot-tom of thecompartments to overlie previously folded tabs 98 and 102, to which theyare secured by suitable adhesive or the like, the bottom of box 12 isformed.

inner container 16 adapted for use with the box form illustrated in Fig.9 of the drawings. The container 16 is shown with its two elevator orejector inserts 44 in assembled condition. The container 16 may beformed from a blank form such as is illustrated in plan view in Fig. 13of the drawings from which it is formed by folding the blank at rightangles on perforated fold lines 114 which define the section 116centrally of the blank corresponding to the bottom end wall of thecontainer. The two perpendicularly folded sections on either side of thebottom section 116 are then folded on perforated lines 118 to form theend enclosing sections of the container above the cut-out portionsthereof and they are additionally folded at right angles alongperforated lines 120 defining sections 122 which form the in-folded flapportions 48 in the top wall of the container.

The elevator or ejector inserts 44 are each formed from a blank such asis illustrated in plan view in Fig. 14 whereinv the blank is firstfolded at right angles in the same direction along perforated fold lines124 defining a central portion 126 in the blank which corresponds to thebottom or foot portion of the elevator insert and then a 90 fold is madealong line 128 to form the enclosing insert wall for the end opening inthe container. The sections 130 on either side of the bottom wallforming section 126 form the side wall enclosing inserts of the elevatorwhich are engageable by the friction discs 36.

In Fig. 15 there is disclosed an inner foil container for the box formillustrated in Fig. 11 of the drawings which consists of two separateand identical container vmembers each insertable in one of the twosections 70 ;and 72 of the box. Each of the identical components of 1the container 16 consists of a rectangular enclosed con- "tainer packagehaving an open end enclosed by open- ;able, in-folded flaps 132 whichpermit the dispensing of nthe contents of the container outwardly ofthat end. jEach component is also provided with a cut away portion .134over the same area and in the same manner as the cut away portion 44 ineach corner of the container 16 of the form shown in Fig. 12. Also, eachcontainer com- ;ponent is provided with ejector.insert 136 of identicaltconstruction to the insert hereinbefore described as formed tfrom theblank as shown in Fig. 14.

By positioning the two component members of the rcontainer 16 in edge toedge relationship with the cut :away portions 134 thereof disposed inopposite directions, the container is positioned within each of the twosections of the double compartment box to locate the cut away portionsand their enclosing ejector inserts.136 inwardly of. and contiguous withthe slotted openings 34 formed in the side walls in each of the twosections of the box. By the foregoing construction a dispensing packageis provided wherein the contents are separately housed in two identicalsections for use in the same manner and obtaining the same result as hasbeen hereinbefore described relative to the box form and inner containerdisclosed in Figs. 9 and 12 respectively.

In Fig. 16 there is illustrated one form of blank from which the innercontainer 16 may be individually formed as a one-piece unit. By foldingthe blank along each dotted line shown through 90 away from the plane ofthe blank face illustrated in Fig. 16, an inner container 16 will beconstructed.

It is fully contemplated that when a package has been :formed inaccordance with the foregoing disclosures a decorative, lightweightfibrous wrapper or label will be provided about the sides, ends, andbottom of the assembled cocking tube and box with a division orseparation occurring in the wrapper or label continuously about thepackage immediately overlying the divisional line defining the abutmentof the upper end of the cocking tube with the annular shoulder 22 on thebox.

In accordance with the foregoing disclosures it is readily seen that aunique and useful dispensing package has been provided which is ofsimplified construction and operationand which serves to attain and theobjects and advantages heretofore set forth.

It is also'reoognized that the above descriptions and disclosuresclearly showcertain embodiments of an operable device made in accordancewith contruction constituting concepts of the present nvention. However,the

limitations intended are those required by the prior art andspecifically defined in the hereinafter appended claims. V p V I claim:

1. A package for dispensing articles contained thereinconsisting of atube, a box telescopically slidable in said tube and having a dispensingopening therein, an ejector in said box movable toward and away fromsaid dis-- pensing opening, and means enabling the selectivecoupling ofthe tube with the ejector. v Y

2. A package for dispensing articles contained therein consisting of atube, a box telescopically slidable in said tube and having a dispensingopening therein, an ejector in said box movable toward and away fromsaid dispensing opening, and means permitting the selective coupling ofthe tube with the ejector by thumb pressure on the exterior of the tube.

3. A package for dispensing articles contained therein consisting of atube, a box telescopically slidable in said tube and having a dispensingopening therein, an ejector in said box engaging articles containedtherein, said ejector being movable toward and away from said dispensingopening, a slotted opening in said box contiguous with the path ofejector movement, and means interiorly of said tube selectivelyengageable through said box opening with said ejector.

4. A package for dispensing articles contained therein consisting of atube, a box telescopically slidable in said tube and having a dispensingopening therein, an ejector in said box engaging articles containedtherein, said ejector being movable toward and away from said dispensingopening, a slotted opening in said box contiguous with the path ofejector movement, and means operable by thumb pressure on the tubeexterior for selectively fn'ctionally coupling said tube and ejector.

5. A package for dispensing articles contained therein consisting of abox having a dispensing opening in one end thereof, an ejector in saidbox engaging articles contained therein and being movable within the boxtoward and away from the dispensing opening, a tube telescopically andslidably engaged about said box in the directions of the ejectormovement in said box, a slotted opening in said box contiguous with thepath of ejector movement, a button member carried on the inner wall ofthe tube in registry with the slotted opening in said box, and saidbutton member being selectively engageable through said opening withsaid ejector.

6. A construction as defined in claim 5 wherein said button is providedwith a surface characteristic on its inwardly disposed face forfrictional engagement with said ejector.

7. In a package for dispensing articles contained therein, a tube, a boxtelescopically slidable in said tube and having a dispensing opening inone end thereof, a container for said articles within the box, a portionof said container being cut away longitudinally of the box, an ejectorwithin the container engaging the articles contained therein and beingmovable longitudinally thereof toward and away from the dispensingopening in the box, a slotted opening in the box immediately adjacentand contiguous with the cut away portion of the container, and means onthe inner wall of said tube for selectively coupling the tube and theejector for unitary movement longitudinally of the box.

8. A package for dispensing articles contained therein accomplish all Imovable toward and away from one of each of said dispensing openings,slotted openings in said box contiguous one with each of the paths ofmovement of each of said ejectors, and means interiorly of said tubeselectively 'engageable through said box openings with said ejectors.

10. A package for dispensing articles contained therein consisting of atube, a box telescopically slidable in said tube and having remotelyspaced dispensing openings in one end thereof, a wrapper forarticles insaid package movable within said box toward and away from saiddispensing openings, a slotted opening in said box contiguous with thepath of wrapper movement therein, and means interiorly of said tubeselectively engageable through said box opening with said wrapper.

11. A package as defined in claim 10 wherein said wrapper is formed inplural sections, and those sections of said wrapper engageable with saidtube supported means being slidable within said box toward and away fromthe open end thereof.

12. A dispensing package comprising, a tube, an inner membertelescopically mounted in said tube, an ejector in said inner memberengaging the contents of the ,package, said ejector being movable withinsaid inner member, an elongated opening in said-inner member con-r itiguous .with the path :of ejector movement therein, and

means interiorly of said tube selectively engageable with said ejectorthrough said inner member opening.

13. A dispensing packagecomprising, a tube, an inner membertelescopically slidable longitudinally within the ,tube, a dispensingopening in said inner member adjacent one end of said tube, an ejectorin-said inner member engaging the contents of the package, said ejectorbeing 'movable within said inner member toward and away from thedispensing opening, an elongated open ing in said inner membercontiguous with the path of ejector movement therein, and meansinteriorly of said tube selectively engageable with said ejector throughsaid inner member opening.

References Cited in'the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS211,604 Tarbutt Jan. 21, 1879 825,987 Thompson July 17, 1906 1,188,199Paquette June 20, 1916 1,378,294 Stevenson May 17, 1921

